Onur Hamzaoglu, a Professor of Epidemiology and the co-spokesperson of the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) was detained on February 9th, 2018 on a warrant issued by Ankara’s Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The justification for the arrest was a press release issued by the HDK on 26th January, condemning Turkey’s operation in Afrin, Syria and calling for Peace and Democracy. In Court on February 16th, 2018 Onur was charged and refused bail for allegedly ‘making terrorist propaganda on social media’. Whilst awaiting trial, his elderly mother sadly passed away in the hospital where she was taken soon after hearing of her son’s arrest. Onur remains in prison awaiting his first trial scheduled for 19 July, 2018.

Background

Onur Hamzaoglu is an internationally known academic and a medical doctor who has written extensively on the political economy and sociology of public health. He has also written specifically on the impact of industrial development on health and the environment, poverty and public health and equality in public health. He is an active member of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), the editor of TTB’s monthly journal Toplum ve Hekim and has been a member of the Executive Board of the International Association of Health Policy in Europe (IAHPE) since 2011.

This is not the first time Onur Hamzaoglu has faced such allegations and investigation. In 2011, after revealing the findings of his research on the devastating impact of industrial waste and pollution in Diloavasi (an industrial district between Istanbul and Kocaeli) he became the target of industrial companies, local authorities and even Kocaeli University - his own university that initially supported and funded the research. His research found traces of poisonous elements and heavy metals in the breast milk of local mothers’ and in the first faeces of their newly born babies, and an increased mortality rate in cancer related diseases. As a result, soon after revealing the findings, a disciplinary investigation was opened against Onur Hamzaoglu by his university aimed at undermining his work.

Onur Hamzaoglu is also widely known in Turkish society for his commitment to democracy and human rights in Turkey. He has been active in movements supporting a just, equal and democratic society. He was among the 1128 academics (known as ‘Academics for Peace’) who signed a peace petition entitled ‘We Will Not Be a Party to This Crime’ on January 11, 2016, demanding peace and a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in the Kurdish regions of Turkey. For this, Onur Hamzaoglu, like many other academics, was dismissed from his job at the University of Kocaeli on September 1, 2017 under new laws enacted under the State of Emergency. Despite this, Onur carried on his work outside academia. He formed the Kocaeli Solidarity Academy (KODA) to defend the rights of those academics who lost their jobs. On September 28th, 2016, Onur became the co-spokesperson of the ‘Peoples’ Democratic Congress’ (HDK), a progressive platform of diverse social movements, political parties, organisations and individuals that was founded in 2011. The aim of HDK was to create a more representative, inclusive, equal politics for the most oppressed, exploited and discriminated sections of society who were marginalised due to their ethnic, religious, gender and sexual orientation. It is because of the continuous work calling for more democracy, freedom and equal representation for minorities, that the HDK has become the main target of Turkish authorities.

We are fully aware that Onur Hamzaoglu’s case is not unique. Increasing numbers of academics, journalists, writers, politicians, lawyers, human rights activists and students have been subjected to false accusations, arbitrary detention, persecution, imprisonment, threats and have lost their jobs for simply demanding a better society with democratic values and freedoms that most people in the world take for granted. An intensified criminalisation process against anyone who dares to challenge and speak out is being carried out across the country. Furthermore, we believe that this increased repression is part of broader pattern of violations against democracy, human rights and freedoms in an increasingly authoritarian Turkey.

Action

We strongly believe that Onur Hamzaoglu should be honoured for his ongoing commitment to peace, freedom and democracy, rather than being kept in prison. We believe that he is a prisoner of conscience who researches and campaigns for the democratic and human rights of all the people of Turkey. We call for his immediate release so that he can continue his vital social, intellectual and political work.